Getting Started Topics Overview Open an account Before you begin Apply for an account Apply Online Apply Offline Step 1 Step 2a - Personal Step 2b - IRA Step 3 Read your agreement Log on to ® Make your first trade Check your account What's next? FAQs

Go to Personal Account for instructions on completing that application. For other types of accounts look for instructions included at the back of each application form.

Section 1: Online IRA Application

• select the type of IRA you wish to open:
  • Traditional IRA
  • IRA Rollover
  • SEP-IRA
  • SAR-SEP IRA
  • Roth IRA
  
  
• Be sure to enter your name is this section as well.

• Enter the requested information about the Account Holder (typically yourself) using the formats shown in the form

  Tips:

  Phone numbers should be entered following format: 555-555-5555

  Social Security numbers should be written as: 555-55-5555

• Follow the instructions on the form for naming your beneficiaries.
• Note: The percentage allocations for all your Primary Beneficiaries must total 100%. Also, if you have named Contingency Beneficiaries, the total of their share percentages must also equal 100%.

Check the appropriate box to indicate how you will fund your account.

1. At the very top of this section, indicate whether or not account holder is retired.
   
   
2. At Employer, type the name of your employer. If you are not employed by a company, type "homemaker", "student", "self-employed", "unemployed", or some other term that best describes your employment status.
   
   
3. At Business address, type your employer's address. If you are a student, homemaker, or unemployed, type "N/A."
   
   
4. If you are self-employed, at Specify occupation, type a name that best describes your occupation.
   
   
5. If you work for a broker/dealer, at Do you work for a registered broker/dealer? click Yes. Then get a written statement from your employer's compliance officer that authorizes you to trade—send the statement with your account application.
   
   
6. At Annual Income, select the number that represents your total annual income.

7. At Liquid net worth, select the number that represents the total value of your liquid assets.

8. At Net Worth, select the amount that represents the total value of your assets.
   
   
9. At Investment experience & knowledge, indicate the numbers of years of experience you have had with different types of investments (stocks, options, bonds, etc.). If none in any area, put "0".
   
   
10. At Describe your investment objectives, select the applicable objective. For more information see investment objectives.
    
    • Aggressive Growth
    • Growth
      
    • Income and Growth
    • Income
    • Capital Preservation

At Tax Status provide the approximate tax bracket for your income range, and your number of dependents.

Section 6 & 7: Disclosures and Acknowledgement

• Read these sections carefully.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen be sure to indicate so by checking the appropriate box.
• You must sign the bottom of section 7 if you want to open an account.

Section 8: Options Trading Application and Agreement

This section only needs to be completed if you want to trade options. Special approval is required. Only covered call writing is permitted with IRA accounts.